Celebrating our Student Leaders | April Dean’s Message

A Message from the Dean

Throughout my years as a dental educator, I have had the privilege of interacting with student leaders. Many of these individuals have volunteered in a leadership role, and some have been elected to these positions by their peers. I have seen some serve for their entire time in our program, and have the privilege of witnessing growth, maturation, and development of leadership skills.

Class officers and representatives interact with faculty and administration on behalf of their classmates. Some students lead service organizations that provide oral health care, oral health literacy, oral health education and engage the community in a variety of ways. Some of these leaders serve on a regional or national level with professional organizations, advocating and shaping health policy and influencing change in health care. These are some of our outstanding learners who have taken on additional responsibilities and roles, and we, as a school, are enriched by their presence in our program and their leadership.

This past year I have seen them step up to the plate, during a most challenging time, to assume leadership responsibilities. Students all over the country have been balancing remote learning and unprecedented disruption in the normal social experiences during college. They have managed remote learning, challenges with WIFI connections, and finding quiet spaces to take remote examinations. Our student leaders this past year have dealt with these challenges in addition to serving as leaders among their peers.

While the students listed represent elected class officers and officers of UMN chapters of national student organizations, there are countless other students who hold leadership positions that positively impact our community. Today, I want to give a huge shout out to all of our student leaders for their incredible work in serving on behalf of their classmates, school, and our profession.

Andrew Glover, DDS 2021, Class President & Student Council President
McKenzie Verbout, DDS 2021, Class Vice President
Trevor Grandgenett, DDS 2021, Class Vice President
Joshua Bush, DDS 2022, Class President & Student Council Vice President
Anna Becker, DDS 2022, Class Vice President
Tommy Chitwood, DDS 2022, Class Vice President
Rachel Nelson, DDS 2023, Class President
Joshua Wright, DDS 2023 , Class Vice President
Claire Waldman, DDS 2023, Class Vice President
Benjamin Moore, DDS 2024, Class President
Shannon Beaulieu, DDS 2024, Vice President
Joe Burgmeier, DDS 2024, Class Vice President
Tessa Doubek, DH 2021, Class President
Emma Hubbell, DH 2021, Class Vice President
Amanda Abbott, DH 2021, Class Vice President
Kayla Michalowski, DH 2022, Class President
Abby Larsen, DH 2022, Class Vice President
Paige Teske, DH 2022, Class Vice President
Emily Anderson, DT 2021 Class President
Rachel Wetzsteon, DT 2021, Class Vice President
Annie Davis, DT 2021, Class Vice President
Jenna Gardner, DT 2022 Class President
Linda Lien, DT 2022, Class Vice President
Alexa Weiss, DT 2022, Class Vice President
Missy Berget, DT 2023 Class President
Rosemary Skriver, DT 2023, Class Vice President
Gracie Comeau, DT 2023, Class Vice President
Navneet Malhi, PASS 2021 Student Representative
Wala Abu Shehab, PASS 2022 Student Representative
Giselle Wallace, Student Council, Treasurer
Jesse Grantz, Student Council, Sergeant-at Arms
Alivia Cao, Student Academy of General Dentistry, President
Sunanda Baliga, Student Academy of General Dentistry, Vice President
Madeleinne Zacher, Dental Student Endodontic Association, President
Garry Grace, Dental Student Endodontic Association, Vice President
Eric Colon, Dental Therapy Student Association, President
Linda Lien, Dental Therapy Student Association, Vice President
Ridila Khan, Student National Dental Association, UMN Chapter President
Hira Sohail, Student National Dental Association, UMN Chapter President
Rachel Meyer, Hispanic Dental Association, UMN Chapter President
Emily Wick, Hispanic Dental Association, UMN Chapter Officer
Isabella Chistianson Galina, Hispanic Dental Association, UMN Chapter Officer
Kayla Schmidt, American Dental Education Association, UMN Chapter President
Victoria Gokee - American Indian Student Group
Colton Cannon, American Student Dental Association, National President
Haley Mathie, American Student Dental Association, UMN Chapter President
Melissa Ferguson, Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association, President
Olivia Bergman, Student American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Vice President